Homogeneous system determination in a network

ABSTRACT

In aspects of homogeneous and heterogeneous system determination in a network, a device can receive a first management frame and a second management frame communicated in separate data messages using a common communication protocol. The device implements a system identification module that can detect the first and second management frames are communicated in data messages from a radio device. The system identification module can determine that the first and second management frames are communicated from a homogeneous system that includes the radio device based at least in part on source addresses included in the first and second management frames. The system identification module can then determine to associate with the homogeneous system based on an operational state of services associated with either the first or the second management frames.

BACKGROUND

Devices such as smart devices, Internet of Things (IoT) devices,wireless access points, devices used in various industries, consumerelectronics, and the like are deployed in many different ways toimplement various services. These devices are implemented for use in awide range of industries and can be found in clothing, houses,buildings, campuses, factories, and the human body. The devices may usevarious networking technologies and protocols to communicate with otherdevices, servers, and/or cloud systems. Typically, the devices publishservices as part of management frames (e.g., beacons, probe requests,discovery frames, and peer-to-peer frames) that are broadcast, whichsuggests to a device that receives the management frames to respond.Some management frames can be active frames that request a response froma receiving device, such as in the form of a probe response, discoveryresponse, etc. Situations may arise where the receiving device is in anidle or sleep state and receives management frames that requests aresponse. The receiving device may then transition from the idle stateto an active state in order to respond to the received managementframes, or the response from the device can be performed by firmware ofthe device to enable the device to remain in the idle state and stillrespond to the received management frames. However, in many cases,responses from the receiving device to the various broadcast managementframes are not required, which results in unnecessary communicationsthat can congest network bandwidth, as well as drain battery power ofthe device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of homogeneous and heterogeneous system determination ina network, as well as heterogeneous system determination in a network,are described with reference to the following Figures. The same numbersmay be used throughout to reference like features and components shownin the Figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system that can be used to implementtechniques of homogeneous system determination in a network, andheterogeneous system determination in a network, as described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example wireless device that can be used toimplement techniques for homogeneous system determination in a network,and heterogeneous system determination in a network, as describedherein.

FIGS. 3-7 illustrate example methods of homogeneous system determinationin a network in accordance with one or more implementations of thetechniques described herein.

FIGS. 8-12 illustrate example methods of heterogeneous systemdetermination in a network in accordance with one or moreimplementations of the techniques described herein.

FIG. 13 illustrates various components of an example device that canimplement aspects of homogeneous and heterogeneous system determinationin a network, and heterogeneous system determination in a network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of homogeneous and heterogeneous system determination ina network are described, and provide techniques to determine whethermanagement frames received in separate data messages are communicatedfrom a homogeneous system or a heterogeneous system, and whether toassociate with the homogeneous system or the heterogeneous system fordata communication. For example, a mobile device (e.g., mobile phone,laptop, computing device, etc.) can receive management frames from oneor more other devices via a network or via direct peer-to-peercommunication. The management frames can be received as unicast,multicast, or broadcast packets transmitted from one or more of theother devices. The management frames can be any type of data frame thatannounces services or information regarding a respective one of theother devices, or the management frames can request information from themobile device.

Generally, a network can include multiple devices or systems, such asInternet of Things (IoT) devices, smart devices, access points, consumerelectronics, and the like, that transmit management frames to requestinformation from the mobile device, and the mobile device can thenrespond to the management frames with the requested information.However, this can lead to unnecessary battery drain of the mobile deviceby responding to all of the management frames received from the multipledevices or systems. Additionally, the mobile device responding to all ofthe management frames received from the multiple devices or systemscongests network bandwidth and adds unnecessary noise on thecommunication medium. Further, the multiple devices or systems aresusceptible to malicious code and compromised devices or systems can beutilized for purposes that risk users' privacy. Although generallydescribed in the context of mobile and/or wireless devices, the featuresand aspects of homogeneous and heterogeneous system determination in anetwork may be applied to the use case of a computing device (e.g.,desktop computer or other PC) that is connected via Ethernet cable, andwhich may be detected as attempting to spoof data packages.

In aspects of homogeneous and heterogeneous system determination in anetwork, a mobile device, such as any type of electronic and/orcomputing device, can be implemented to determine that management framesreceived using a common communication protocol in separate data messagesare communicated from a homogeneous system, and the mobile device candetermine whether to associate with the homogeneous system for datacommunication. Generally, as a type of computing device, the mobiledevice implements a system identification module that can detect whetherthe management frames are communicated from a radio device or multipleradio devices of a same device system or homogeneous system based onsource addresses included in the management frames. The systemidentification module can then determine to associate with thehomogeneous system based on an operational state of services associatedwith the management frames.

For example, an IoT device can have two pre-programmed medium accesscontrol (MAC) addresses (i.e., source addresses), where each MAC addressis associated with a different service, such as one MAC addressassociated with a printer service and another MAC address associatedwith a voice operated service (e.g., Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, orApple Siri). The mobile device can receive a first management framehaving a source address associated with the printer service, and receivea second management frame having a source address associated with thevoice operated service. The mobile device can respond to the firstmanagement frame and/or the second management frame, and determine anoperational state of the printer service and/or the voice operatedservice. If the mobile device detects that the backend server or networkconnectivity for either one of the services (e.g., the printer or voiceoperated service) is not responding or not working, then the mobiledevice can infer that the other service is also not working due to abackend or network connectivity issue. The system identification modulecan detect these issues associated with the services of the IoT device,and determine to ignore the first and second management frames based onthe operational state of the services provided by the IoT device by notresponding, which saves battery power of the mobile device.

The system identification module can also determine that managementframes received using a common communication protocol in separate datamessages are communicated from a homogeneous system based on varioussignatures of the management frames. The signatures of a managementframe may include an organizationally unique identifier (OUI), a non-OUIportion, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value signature, atransmit power control (TPC) report, a location, and/or timingmeasurements. Any one or combination of the signatures of the managementframe can be utilized as a basis for the determination that themanagement frames received using a common communication protocol arecommunicated from a homogeneous system, as described herein. Forexample, a dual-band access point that provides Wi-Fi on both 2.4 GHzand 5.0 GHz frequencies has an associated MAC address for each radio.The system identification module of the mobile device can perform an OUIlookup of MAC addresses included in the received management frames fromthe access point that indicates a manufacturer or organization. If theOUI lookup of the MAC addresses, or the non-OUI portion (up to 16/32bits difference), indicate the same manufacturer or vendor, then thesystem identification module can infer that the received managementframes are communicated from a same device system or a homogeneoussystem, and determine whether to associate with the access point.

The system identification module can also add identified homogeneoussystems to a block list or to an allow list. Homogeneous systems thathave been added to the block list causes the mobile device to ignoremanagement frames received from homogeneous systems identified in theblock list. Homogeneous systems that have been added to the allow listcauses the mobile device to respond to management frames received fromhomogeneous systems identified in the allow list.

The features of homogeneous system determination in a network describedherein enables a mobile device to identify a homogeneous system havingmultiple radios using a common communication protocol, or identify ahomogeneous system having a single radio which rotates MAC addressesperiodically. The mobile device can then allow or block interaction withthe homogeneous system based on an operational state of servicesprovided by the homogeneous system or network connectivity and/oravailability of the homogeneous system. By blocking interaction with thehomogeneous system, battery power of the mobile device is conserved, aswell as reduction of response frames and data via the communicationmedium, which serves to alleviate network congestion. Additionally, anoperational state of services provided by the homogeneous system ornetwork connectivity and/or availability of the homogeneous system canbe reported back to a computing device or administrator of the network.

In aspects of heterogeneous system determination in a network, a mobiledevice, such as any type of electronic and/or computing device, can beimplemented to determine that management frames received using differentcommunication protocols in separate data messages are communicated froma heterogeneous system, and the mobile device can determine whether toassociate with the heterogeneous system for data communication.Generally, as a type of computing device, the mobile device implements asystem identification module that can detect whether the managementframes received using different communication protocols are communicatedfrom different radio devices of a same device system or from aheterogeneous system in the network based on source addresses includedin the management frames. The system identification module can thendetermine to associate with the heterogeneous system based on anoperational state of services associated with the received managementframes.

For example, a wireless device, such as an IoT device or a wirelessaccess point, can have two different radios that communicate with themobile device using different communication protocols. The two differentradios may be a Wi-Fi radio and a Bluetooth™ radio, such that each radiois associated with a different pre-programmed MAC address (i.e., sourceaddress). The mobile device can receive a first management frame whosesource address is associated with the Wi-Fi radio, and receive a secondmanagement frame whose source address is associated with the Bluetooth™radio. The mobile device can respond to the first management frameand/or the second management frame, and determine an operational stateof the services provided by the IoT device via the Wi-Fi radio and theBluetooth™ radio. If the mobile device detects that the backend serveror a network connection for either one of the services is not respondingor not working, then the mobile device can infer that the other serviceis also not working due to a backend issue or the network connection.The system identification module can detect these issues associated withthe IoT device, and determine to ignore the first and second managementframes which saves battery power of the mobile device.

The system identification module can also determine that managementframes received using different communication protocols in separate datamessages are communicated from a heterogeneous system based on varioussignatures of the management frames. The signatures of a managementframe may include an organizationally unique identifier (OUI), areceived signal strength indicator (RSSI) value, a transmit powercontrol (TPC) report, a location, and/or timing measurements. Any one orcombination of the signatures of the management frame can be utilized asa basis for the determination that the management frames received usingdifferent communication protocols are communicated from a same devicesystem or a heterogeneous system, as described herein.

For example, a wireless access point may include at least one Wi-Firadio and a Bluetooth™ radio. The wireless access point uses a singlechipset that includes both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth™ radios, and sourceaddresses corresponding to MAC addresses of the respective Wi-Fi andBluetooth™ radios have the same OUI. The system identification module ofthe mobile device can perform an OUI lookup of MAC addresses included inthe received management frames from the wireless access point thatindicates a manufacturer or organization. If the OUI lookup of the MACaddresses indicate the same manufacturer or vendor, then the systemidentification module can infer that the management frames receivedusing different communication protocols are communicated from a samedevice system or heterogeneous system. The system identification modulecan then determine whether to associate with the access point based onan operational state of the services provided by the wireless accesspoint.

The system identification module can also add identified heterogeneoussystems to a block list or to an allow list. Heterogeneous systems thathave been added to the block list causes the mobile device to ignoremanagement frames received using different communication protocols fromheterogeneous systems identified in the block list. Heterogeneoussystems that have been added to the allow list causes the mobile deviceto respond to management frames received using different communicationprotocols from heterogeneous systems identified in the allow list.

The features of heterogeneous system determination in a networkdescribed herein enables a mobile device to identify a heterogeneoussystem having multiple different radios using different communicationprotocols. The mobile device can then allow or block interaction withthe heterogeneous system based on an operational state of servicesprovided by the heterogeneous system or network connectivity and/oravailability of the heterogeneous system. By blocking interaction withthe heterogeneous system, battery power of the mobile device isconserved, as well as maintaining user privacy. Additionally, anoperational state of services provided by the heterogeneous system ornetwork connectivity and/or availability of the heterogeneous system canbe reported back to a computing device or administrator of the network.

While features and concepts of homogeneous and heterogeneous systemdetermination in a network can be implemented in any number of differentdevices, systems, environments, and/or configurations, implementationsof homogeneous and heterogeneous system determination in a network aredescribed in the context of the following example devices, systems, andmethods.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 that can be used to implementtechniques of homogeneous system determination in a network, as well asheterogeneous system determination in a network, as described herein. Inthis example, the system 100 includes a computing device 102 and awireless device 104 that can communicate with each other via a network106 (e.g., WLAN) or via a direct peer-to-peer connection 108 (e.g.,Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth™, RFID, etc.). The computing device 102 may beany type of electronic, computing, and/or wireless device, such as amobile phone or tablet device, that includes one or more wireless radios110. Examples of electronic and/or computing devices 112 depicted inFIG. 1 include a mobile phone, laptop, or tablet device. The electronicand/or computing devices described herein may also be configured as awearable device 114 that is designed to be worn by, attached to, carriedby, or otherwise transported by a user. Examples of the wearable devices114 depicted in FIG. 1 include glasses, a smart band or watch, and mediaplayback device, such as clip-on fitness device, media player, ortracker. Other examples of wearable devices 114 include, but are notlimited to, badges, a key fob, an access card, and a ring, an article ofclothing, a glove, or a bracelet, to name a few examples.

Similarly, the wireless device 104 may be any type of electronic and/orcomputing device that includes one or more wireless radios 116. Thewireless device 104 can be implemented to provide various services, suchas a first service 118 and a second service 120 that can be published tothe computing device 102 and other devices within communication range ofthe wireless radios 116 of the wireless device. Alternatively or inaddition, the wireless device 104 can provide the services 118, 120 tothe computing device 102 and other devices that are communicativelyaccessible via the network 106. The services 118, 120 can be publishedby transmitting data messages that include management frames 122 via theone or more wireless radios 116 of the wireless device 104 using thenetwork 106, or via the direct peer-to-peer connection 108. Examples ofthe wireless device 104 include smart home devices, Internet of Things(IoT) devices, wireless access points, and the like. Generally, thecomputing device 102 and the wireless device 104 are electronic and/orcomputing devices implemented with various components, such as aprocessing system and memory, as well as any number and combination ofdifferent components as further described with reference to the exampledevice shown in FIG. 13.

In aspects of homogeneous system determination in a network, thecomputing device 102 can receive data messages that include themanagement frames 122 from the wireless device 104. Subsequent responsesto the management frames and/or analysis of the management frames 122generally refers to functions performed by the computing device 102 toidentify or detect services associated with the wireless device 104. Forexample, the wireless device 104 may be a dual-band access point thatprovides wireless connectivity services on 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz frequencybands via 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz radios. The dual-band access point isreferred to herein as a homogeneous system because the dual-band accesspoint includes two different radios using a common communicationprotocol. The management frames 122 transmitted at 2.4 GHz include asource address (e.g., MAC address) associated with the 2.4 GHz radio ofthe dual-band access point, and the management frames 122 transmitted at5.0 GHz include a different source address (e.g., another MAC address)associated with the 5.0 GHz radio of the dual-band access point.

The management frames 122 can be unicast, multicast, or broadcastpackets transmitted to one or more devices from the wireless device 104.Generally, the management frames 122 can be any type of data frame thatannounces services or information regarding a respective one of theother devices, and/or the management frames can request information fromthe computing device 102. As an example, the management frames 122 arebeacon frames that are broadcast to devices connected to a network orwithin communication range. The beacon frames include information suchas a MAC address, a service set identifier (SSID), and other parametersregarding the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz radios and/or the dual-band accesspoint. The beacon frames are broadcast via the respective 2.4 GHz and5.0 GHz radios of the dual-band access point and the computing device102 receives the beacon frames via wireless radios 110 to identifyservices or information regarding the respective beacon frames.

In another example, the wireless device 104 may be an Internet of Things(IoT) device, such as a smart thermostat device that provides servicesfor thermostat control, as well as a voice operated service (e.g.,Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Apple Sin). The smart thermostatdevice can be implemented to publish the services that indicate thecapabilities of the smart thermostat by transmitting the managementframes 122 using two different MAC addresses, such as one MAC addressassociated with the thermostat control service and another MAC addressassociated with the voice operated service. The two different MACaddresses enables the smart thermostat device to utilize a singlewireless radio 116 to publish the services.

As shown in FIG. 1, the computing device 102 includes the one or morewireless radios 110 that receive the management frames 122 broadcastfrom the one or more wireless radios 116 of the wireless device 104. Inthis example, the computing device 102 also includes a systemidentification module 124 implemented to obtain the management frames122 received by the wireless radios 110 of the computing device 102. Thesystem identification module 124 includes a detection algorithm 126 thatcan be implemented to analyze the management frames 122 and detectwhether each of the management frames 122 is received in separate datamessages using a common communication protocol from a same radio device,or from multiple, different radio devices. The detection algorithm 126is also implemented to determine whether the received management frames122 were transmitted from a same device system, or from a homogeneoussystem that includes the same radio device or the multiple radiodevices.

For example, if the wireless device 104 is implemented as a dual-bandaccess point (e.g., a homogeneous system) as described above, then thecomputing device 102 can receive the management frames 122 in separatedata messages transmitted from multiple wireless radios 116 of thedual-band access point. For example, one of the wireless radios 116 ofthe dual-band access point broadcasts the management frames 122 at 2.4GHz and another, different one of the wireless radios 116 of thedual-band access point broadcasts the management frames 122 at 5.0 GHz.The management frames 122 of the separate data messages includedifferent source addresses associated with each of the wireless radios116 of the dual-band access point.

In another example, the wireless device 104 may be implemented as asmart thermostat device (e.g., a homogeneous system) with a single Wi-Firadio (e.g., wireless radio 116 of the wireless device 104) thatprovides the services 118, 120 for thermostat control and a voiceoperated service, and the computing device 102 can then receive separatedata messages associated with each service of the smart thermostat. Themanagement frames 122 of the separate data messages include differentsource addresses associated with each respective service 118, 120 of thesmart thermostat device. In either example described above, thedetection algorithm 126 can utilize signatures of the receivedmanagement frames 122 to identify or determine whether a homogeneoussystem transmitted the received management frames 122, as furtherdiscussed below with reference to the example wireless device shown inFIG. 2 and the example methods shown and described with reference toFIGS. 3-7.

In aspects of heterogeneous system determination in a network, thecomputing device 102 can receive data messages that include themanagement frames 122 from the one or more wireless radios 116 of thewireless device 104 using different communication protocols. Subsequentresponses to the management frames and/or analysis of the managementframes 122 generally refer to functions performed by the computingdevice 102 to identify or detect services associated with the wirelessdevice 104. For example, the wireless device 104 may be a dual-bandaccess point that includes Wi-Fi radios (e.g., 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHzradios) and a Bluetooth™ radio, and each radio is associated with adifferent source address (i.e., MAC address). The dual-band access pointin this example is referred to herein as a heterogeneous system becausethe dual-band access point includes multiple different radios usingdifferent communication protocols, such as the Wi-Fi radios and theBluetooth™ radio. The computing device 102 receives the managementframes 122 and each of the different source addresses of the managementframes 122 is associated with one of the Wi-Fi radios or with theBluetooth™ radio of the dual-band access point.

In another example, the wireless device 104 may be an Internet of Things(IoT) device, such as a smart home device, that includes two differentradios using different communication protocols, such as a Wi-Fi radioand a Bluetooth™ radio for instance. The smart home device can beimplemented to publish the services 118, 120 that indicate thecapabilities of the smart home device by transmitting the managementframes 122 using two different MAC addresses, such as one MAC addressassociated with the Wi-Fi radio and another MAC address associated withthe Bluetooth™ radio. The two different MAC addresses enables the smarthome device to utilize different wireless radios to publish the servicesusing various, different radio technologies.

In implementations, the system identification module 124 determineswhether the management frames 122 are communicated from a heterogeneoussystem. The detection algorithm 126 can be initiated by the systemidentification module 124 to analyze the received management frames 122and detect whether each of the management frames 122 is received inseparate data messages using different communication protocols fromdifferent radio devices. The detection algorithm 126 can then determinewhether the received management frames 122 were transmitted from a samedevice system, or from a heterogeneous system that includes thedifferent radio devices. For example, if the wireless device 104 isimplemented as the smart home device having a Wi-Fi radio and aBluetooth™ radio as described above, then the computing device 102 canreceive the management frames 122 in separate data messages transmittedfrom the different radios of the smart home device, such as the Wi-Firadio and the Bluetooth™ radio of the smart home device eachbroadcasting the management frames 122 using different communicationprotocols. The detection algorithm 126 can utilize signatures of thereceived management frames 122 to identify or determine whether aheterogeneous system transmitted the received management frames 122, asfurther discussed below with reference to the example wireless deviceshown in FIG. 2 and the example methods shown and described withreference to FIGS. 8-12.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example wireless device 200 in which aspects ofhomogeneous system determination in a network, as well as heterogeneoussystem determination in a network, can be implemented. The examplewireless device 200 includes any type of wireless device, such as amobile device, a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or any type of devicethat includes the one or more wireless radios 110. Generally, thewireless device 200 is any type of an electronic and/or computing deviceimplemented with various components, such as a processing system 202 andmemory 204, as well as any number and combination of differentcomponents as further described with reference to the example deviceshown in FIG. 13. For example, the wireless device 200 can include apower source 206 (e.g., a battery), optionally a display device 208, anda communication interface 210. In this example, the wireless device 200may be implemented as the computing device 102 that is shown anddescribed with reference to FIG. 1

The wireless device 200 includes the system identification module 124that implements features of homogeneous system determination in anetwork, and features of heterogeneous system determination in anetwork, as shown and described with reference to FIG. 1. The systemidentification module 124 may include independent processing, memory,and logic components as a computing and/or electronic device integratedwith the wireless device 200. Alternatively or in addition, the systemidentification module 124 can be implemented as a software applicationor software module, such as computer-executable software instructionsthat are executable with a processor (e.g., with the processing system202) of the wireless device 200. As a software application, the systemidentification module 124 can be stored on computer-readable storagememory (e.g., the device memory 204), such as any suitable memory deviceor electronic data storage implemented with the wireless device.

As described above with reference to FIG. 1, the system identificationmodule 124 can be implemented to detect that received management frames122 are communicated from a radio device of a homogeneous system, orfrom different radio devices of a heterogeneous system in the networkbased in part on respective source addresses included in the managementframes. The system identification module 124 can also include thedetection algorithm 126, as shown and described with reference toFIG. 1. For example, the wireless device 200 receives the managementframes 122 via a wireless radio 110 from a wireless device (e.g.,wireless device 104), and the received management frames 122 are passedto the detection algorithm 126 of the system identification module 124.The detection algorithm 126 can then analyze the received managementframes 122 and detect whether the management frames 122 are received inseparate data messages from a homogeneous system, or from aheterogeneous system.

In aspects of homogeneous system determination in a network, as well asheterogeneous system determination in a network, the detection algorithm126 includes various signatures 212 that are utilized for thedetermination of the received management frames 122 being communicatedfrom a homogeneous system or from a heterogeneous system. The signatures212 are based on data included in the received management frames 122,and can include an organizationally unique identifier (OUI) 214,received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values 216, transmit powercontrol (TPC) reports 218, location 220, and timing 222. Any one orcombination of the signatures 212 can be performed or determined by thedetection algorithm 126 and can be used as a basis for the determinationof the management frames 122 being communicated from a homogeneoussystem or from a heterogeneous system.

The OUI 214 signature is a 24-bit number that uniquely identifies avendor or manufacturer of a device or component, and is typically thefirst three octets of a MAC address included in a management frame. Awireless device (e.g., wireless device 104) can support multiple MACaddresses such that each management frame transmitted by the deviceincludes one of the multiple MAC addresses associated with a respectiveservice of the wireless device. For example, a homogeneous system, suchas a dual-band access point (2.4 GHz/5.0 GHz) has two service setidentifiers (SSIDs) that are associated with the respective 2.4 GHz and5.0 GHz frequency bands. The management frames 122 transmitted by thedual-band access point at 2.4 GHz has one MAC address, and themanagement frames 122 transmitted at 5.0 GHz has a different MACaddress. Both MAC addresses share the same first three octets of the MACaddress because a chipset that implements services of the dual-bandaccess point is produced by a single vendor or manufacturer (and thefirst three octets of the MAC address being with a thresholddifference). The last three octets of the MAC addresses are NetworkInterface Controller (NIC) specific, and typically the last three octetsof the MAC addresses are different, notably the difference between thelast three octets (non-OUI portion) of the two MAC addresses is at mostsixteen (16) or thirty-two (32).

As an example, management frames transmitted by the 2.4 GHz radio of thedual-band access point has a MAC address of “70:3A:CB:4B:AC:EB”, andmanagement frames transmitted by the 5.0 GHz radio of the dual-bandaccess point has a MAC address of “70:3A:CB:4B:AC:E7”. In this example,both MAC addresses have the first three octets of the MAC addresses incommon, which corresponds to a particular vendor and/or manufacturerassociated with the first three octets of the MAC address (e.g.,“70:3A:CB: . . . ”). The last octet (non-OUI portion) of the MACaddresses is different by at most sixteen (16) or thirty-two(32)—“70:3A:CB:4B:AC:EB” vs “70:3A:CB:4B:AC:E7”.

In aspects of homogeneous system determination in a network, thedetection algorithm 126 can be implemented to determine that managementframes 122 received using a common communication protocol in separatedata messages from the wireless device 104 are communicated from ahomogeneous system based in part on an OUI lookup of MAC addressesincluded in the management frames 122. In the example described above,the dual-band access point has different MAC addresses associated withthe 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz radios, where the first three octets of the MACaddresses are the same and the last octet (non-OUI portion) of thesource addresses are different by at most sixteen (16) or thirty-two(32). The detection algorithm 126 can determine that the managementframes 122 are communicated from a homogeneous system (e.g. thedual-band access point) based on the first three octets of the MACaddresses corresponding to a common vendor and/or manufacturer and thelast three octets of the MAC addresses being within a thresholddifference.

In aspects of heterogeneous system determination in a network, thedetection algorithm 126 can be implemented to determine that receivedmanagement frames 122 using different communication protocols inseparate data messages from the wireless device 104 are communicatedfrom a heterogeneous system based in part on an OUI lookup of MACaddresses included in the management frames 122. For example, an IoTdevice includes two different radios that communicate with the wirelessdevice 200 using different communication protocols. The two differentradios can be a Wi-Fi radio and a Bluetooth™ radio, and each radio isassociated with a different pre-programmed MAC address (i.e., sourceaddress). The wireless device 200 can receive a first management framehaving source address that is associated with the Wi-Fi radio, andreceive a second management frame having a source address that isassociated with the Bluetooth™ radio. The detection algorithm 126 candetermine that the management frames 122 are communicated from aheterogeneous system based on the first three octets of the MACaddresses corresponding to a common vendor and/or manufacturer and thelast three octets being within a threshold difference.

In implementations, the wireless device 104 includes a single wirelessradio 116 having a single MAC OUI. The wireless device 104 can beimplemented to publish services (e.g., the first service 118 and secondservice 120) using locally administered MAC addresses. Universallyadministered and locally administered MAC address are distinguished bythe second-least-significant bit of the first octet of the address, alsoreferred to as the Universal/Local (U/L) bit, that identifies how theaddress is administered. If the U/L bit is zero, then the address isuniversally administered, and if the U/L bit is one, then the address islocally administered. For example, a source address of“06:00:00:00:00:00” has a binary form of “0000 0110” for the first octetof the source address. The second-least-significant bit of the firstoctet is set to one, thus the source address is a locally administeredaddress. In this way, the wireless device 104 can utilize a singlewireless radio 116 to generate separate MAC addresses associated withthe first and second services 118, 120 provided by the wireless device104.

In aspects of homogeneous system determination in a network, thedetection algorithm 126 can be implemented to determine that receivedmanagement frames 122 using a common communication protocol in separatedata messages from the wireless device 104 are communicated from ahomogeneous system based in part on locally administered sourceaddresses included in the management frames 122. For example, thewireless device 104 may transmit three management frames 122 that eachinclude three different locally administered source addresses to publishassociated services for the wireless device 104 (i.e., a homogeneoussystem). The first octet of each of the locally administered sourceaddresses included in the management frames 122 are different from oneanother, and the last three octets in the locally administered sourceaddresses are the same. The detection algorithm 126 can compute back thelocally administered source addresses to the universal administeredsource address. The detection algorithm 126 can then perform an OUIlookup as described above to determine that the locally administeredsource addresses included in the management frames 122 are communicatedfrom the wireless device 104 and identify the wireless device 104 as ahomogeneous system. Alternatively or in addition, the detectionalgorithm 126 can determine that the locally administered sourceaddresses included in the management frames 122 are communicated fromthe homogeneous system based in part on the last three octets of themanagement frames being the same or within a threshold difference.

In aspects of heterogeneous system determination in a network, thedetection algorithm 126 can be implemented to determine that receivedmanagement frames 122 using different communication protocols inseparate data messages from the wireless device 104 are communicatedfrom a heterogeneous system based in part on locally administered sourceaddresses included in the management frames 122. For example, thewireless device 104 may transmit two management frames 122 via twodifferent radios (e.g., Wi-Fi and Bluetooth™ radios) that each includetwo different locally administered source addresses to publishassociated services for the wireless device 104 (i.e., a heterogeneoussystem). The first octet of each of the locally administered sourceaddresses included in the management frames 122 are different from oneanother, and the last three octets in the locally administered sourceaddresses are the same. The detection algorithm 126 can compute back thelocally administered source addresses to the universal administeredsource address. The detection algorithm 126 can then perform an OUIlookup as described above to determine that the locally administeredsource addresses included in the management frames 122 are communicatedfrom the wireless device 104 having two different radios and identifythe wireless device 104 as a heterogeneous system. Alternatively or inaddition, the detection algorithm 126 can determine that the locallyadministered source addresses included in the management frames 122 arecommunicated from the heterogeneous system based in part on the lastthree octets of the management frames being the same or within athreshold difference.

In aspects of homogeneous system determination in a network, thedetection algorithm 126 can be implemented to utilize the receivedsignal strength indicator (RSSI) values 216 of the signatures 212 todetermine whether received management frames 122 using a commoncommunication protocol in separate data messages are communicated from ahomogeneous system (e.g., wireless device 104). In continuation of thedual-band access point example above, beacon frames transmitted at 2.4GHz and 5.0 GHz have a same pattern difference of RSSI values asmeasured by the wireless device 200. Typically, the difference of RSSIvalues between management frames 122 received at 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz isfrom zero to seven decibels (0-7 dB). The RSSI values 216 of thesignatures 212 can indicate RSSI values of the management frames 122received at 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz. The detection algorithm 126 can thendetermine that the received management frames 122 are communicated froma homogeneous system (e.g., the dual-band access point) based in part ona difference of the RSSI values of the management frames 122 received at2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz being less than a threshold value. Similarly, forintra band with multiple SSIDs in the same band, the detection algorithm126 can associate the 2.4 GHz and the 5.0 GHz are received from the samedevice by evaluation of the relative swing of 2.4 GHz to 2.4 GHz, or 5.0GHz to 5.0 GHz, which for intra band, the RSSI value swing would berelative and small. Otherwise, the detection algorithm 126 determinesthat the received management frames 122 are communicated from separatedevices or systems.

In aspects of heterogeneous system determination in a network, thedetection algorithm 126 can be implemented to utilize the RSSI values216 of the signatures 212 to determine whether received managementframes 122 using different communication protocols in separate datamessages are communicated from a heterogeneous system (e.g., wirelessdevice 104). In continuation of the IoT device example above, the Wi-Firadio and Bluetooth™ radio each transmit management frames in respectivedata messages and RSSI values of the data messages can be measured bythe wireless device 200. The RSSI values 216 of the signatures 212 canindicate RSSI values of the management frames 122 received from theWi-Fi radio and Bluetooth™ radio of the IoT device. The detectionalgorithm 126 can then determine that the received management frames 122are communicated from a heterogeneous system (e.g., the IoT device)based on a difference of the RSSI values of the management frames 122received being less than a threshold value. Otherwise, the detectionalgorithm 126 determines that the received management frames 122 arecommunicated from separate devices or systems.

In aspects of homogeneous system determination in a network, thedetection algorithm 126 can be implemented to utilize the transmit powercontrol (TPC) reports 218 of the signatures 212 to determine whetherreceived management frames 122 using a common communication protocol inseparate data messages are communicated from a homogeneous system (e.g.,wireless device 104). Transmit power control is a feature of 802.11h, asan amendment added to the 802.11 standard, which enables an access pointto define local rules for maximum transmit power for clients and otheraccess points. Transmit power control is a mechanism to reduce power ofa radio to the minimum necessary to maintain the link with a certainquality and allows devices to avoid interference into other devicesand/or to extend battery life of devices.

The TPC reports 218 of the signatures 212 can include TPC reports thatindicate a transmit power and link margin associated with the receivedmanagement frames 122. In implementations, the detection algorithm 126can be implemented to request a TPC report for the management frames 122that include different source addresses. In other implementations, theTPC reports 218 may be included with the management frames 122 and thedetection algorithm 126 can parse the management frames to obtain theTPC reports. The TPC reports 218 can be utilized by the detectionalgorithm 126 to distinguish or determine whether a device (e.g., thedual-band access point) has a same chipset having multiple distinctradios. By comparing the TPC reports, the detection algorithm 126 candistinguish the device that has multiple distinct radios. If the TPCreports are the same or within a threshold difference, then thedetection algorithm 126 determines that the received management frames122 are communicated from a same device system or homogeneous systemhaving multiple distinct radios using a common communication protocol(e.g., the dual-band access point). Otherwise, the detection algorithm126 can determine that the received management frames 122 arecommunicated from separate devices or systems.

In aspects of homogeneous system determination in a network, thedetection algorithm 126 can be implemented to utilize the location 220feature of the signatures 212 to determine whether received managementframes 122 using a common communication protocol in separate datamessages are communicated from a homogeneous system (e.g., wirelessdevice 104). For example, the wireless device 104 may be a Wi-Filocation enabled device that generates a geospatial location as locationdata, and the wireless device 200 can request the location data for themanagement frames 122 with different source addresses. In otherexamples, the wireless device 104 can include various other radiotechnologies for determining or generating the geospatial location, suchas Bluetooth™ Low Energy (BLE), GPS, RFID, NFC, Wi-Fi Direct, and thelike. Generally, the location data indicates a geospatial location ofthe wireless device 104. In continuation of the example Wi-Fi locationenabled device, the request for the location data can be a request for alocation civic report and/or location civic information according to theWi-Fi location protocol. The location civic report can indicate a civicaddress of the wireless device 104 and the location civic informationcan indicate latitude, longitude, altitude, and station floor/heightinformation of the wireless device 104.

The location 220 feature of the signatures 212 can include requestedlocation civic reports and/or location civic information associated withthe received management frames 122. The detection algorithm 126 canrequest location data for the management frames 122 with differentsource addresses, and the location 220 can be utilized by the detectionalgorithm 126 to determine a geospatial location of devices thattransmitted the management frames 122. By comparing the location datafor management frames 122 with different source addresses, the detectionalgorithm 126 can determine whether the locations 220 associated withthe different sources addresses of the management frames 122 are at asame location or within a threshold distance from one another. If thelocation is the same or within the threshold distance from one another,then the detection algorithm 126 determines that the received managementframes 122 are communicated from the same homogeneous system (e.g.,wireless device 104). Otherwise, the detection algorithm 126 determinesthat the received management frames 122 are communicated from separatedevices or systems.

In aspects of heterogeneous system determination in a network, thedetection algorithm 126 can be implemented to utilize the location 220feature of the signatures 212 to determine whether received managementframes 122 using different communication protocols are communicated froma heterogeneous system (e.g., wireless device 104). For example, thewireless device 104 may be a Wi-Fi location enabled and Bluetooth™location enabled device, and the wireless device 102 can receivelocation data included with the management frames 122 or request thelocation data for the management frames that have different sourceaddresses. The location data indicates a location of the wireless device104 having the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth™ radio and can be stored as thelocation 220 of the signatures 212.

The detection algorithm 126 can utilize the location 220 feature todetermine a location of the devices that transmitted the managementframes 122. By comparing the location data for the management frames 122received via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth™ protocols, the detection algorithm 126can determine whether the locations 220 associated with the differentsource addresses of the received management frames 122 are at a samelocation or within a threshold distance from one another. If thelocation is the same or within the threshold distance from one another,then the detection algorithm 126 determines that the received managementframes 122 are communicated from a same device system or heterogeneoussystem (e.g., wireless device 104 having Wi-Fi and Bluetooth™ radios).Otherwise, the detection algorithm 126 determines that the receivedmanagement frames 122 are communicated from separate devices or systems.

In aspects of homogeneous system determination in a network, thedetection algorithm 126 can be implemented to utilize the timing 222feature of the signatures 212 to determine whether received managementframes 122 using a common communication protocol in separate datamessages are communicated from a homogeneous system (e.g., wirelessdevice 104). For example, a fine timing measurement protocol is afeature of 802.11mc to enable distance measurements between Wi-Fidevices by measuring a duration of time that a frame is required totravel through the air between the Wi-Fi devices. In other examples,other types of timing measurements, such as time of flight (ToF), Timeof Arrival (ToA), Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA), Time Difference ofFlight (TDoF), and the like, can be utilized to enable distancemeasurements between devices.

The timing 222 feature of the signatures 212 can include distancemeasurements associated with the received management frames 122. Thetiming 222 can be utilized by the detection algorithm 126 to determinedistances to devices that transmitted the management frames 122. Bycomparing the distances to radios that transmitted the management frames122, the detection algorithm 126 can determine whether timing 222associated with the different source addresses of the management frames122 are a same distance or within a threshold distance from the wirelessdevice 200. If the distances are the same or within a thresholddistance, then the detection algorithm 126 determines that the receivedmanagement frames 122 are communicated from a same device system orhomogeneous system. Otherwise, the detection algorithm 126 determinesthat the received management frames 122 are communicated from separatedevices or systems.

In aspects of homogeneous system determination in a network, andheterogeneous system determination in a network, the detection algorithm126 can be implemented to utilize any one or combination of the varioussignatures 212 to determine that the received management frames 122 arecommunicated from a same device system. Depending on the communicationprotocol used to communicate the management frames, the detectionalgorithm 126 can identify a device system as a homogeneous system or aheterogeneous system using the techniques described herein.Additionally, the detection algorithm 126 can determine whether ahomogeneous system includes multiple wireless radios with multiplesource addresses (e.g., MAC addresses), or determine whether thehomogeneous system includes a single wireless radio that rotates MACaddresses to transmit the management frames. For example, a homogeneoussystem (e.g., wireless device 104) that includes multiple wirelessradios 116, such as a dual-band access point having 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHzradios, can transmit the management frames using the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHzradios that have a common communication protocol. Alternatively, thehomogeneous system can include a single wireless radio 116 that locallyadministers multiple different source addresses as described above.

When the detection algorithm 126 has determined that the receivedmanagement frames 122 are communicated from a homogeneous system or froma heterogeneous system, the system identification module 124 can thendetermine whether to associate with the homogeneous system or theheterogeneous system based on an operational state of servicesassociated with the management frames. For example, if a backend serverfor either of the services 118, 120 associated with the receivedmanagement frames 122 of the wireless device 104 is not responding ornot working, the system identification module 124 can set an indicationof the operational state of the services associated with the managementframes as not operational. In another example, if a network connectionto the backend server for either of the services associated with thereceived management frames 122 of the wireless device 104 is down orotherwise off-line, the system identification module 124 can set anindication of the operational state of services associated with themanagement frames as not operational.

The system identification module 124 can detect issues associated withthe wireless device 104, and add the wireless device 104 to a block list224. The management frames 122 received from the wireless device 104, aswell as subsequent management frames, will be ignored by not respondingto the management frames if the wireless device 104 has been added tothe block list 224. Additionally, the system identification module 124may detect that the backend issues associated with the wireless device104 have been resolved, and can initiate to remove the wireless device104 from the block list 224 and add the wireless device 104 to an allowlist 226. In another example, the system identification module 124 maynot detect any issues associated with the services of the wirelessdevice 104, and the system identification module 124 can initiate to addthe wireless device 104 to the allow list 226. Alternatively or inaddition, a user of the wireless device 200 can provide an input thatadds user selected homogeneous systems or heterogeneous systems to theblock list 224 or the allow list 226.

Example methods 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 are described with referenceto FIGS. 3-7 in accordance with implementations of homogeneous systemdetermination in a network. Similarly, example methods 800, 900, 1000,1100, and 1200 are described with reference to FIGS. 8-12 in accordancewith implementations of heterogenous system determination in a network.Generally, any services, components, modules, methods, and/or operationsdescribed herein can be implemented using software, firmware, hardware(e.g., fixed logic circuitry), manual processing, or any combinationthereof. Some operations of the example methods may be described in thegeneral context of executable instructions stored on computer-readablestorage memory that is local and/or remote to a computer processingsystem, and implementations can include software applications, programs,functions, and the like. Alternatively or in addition, any of thefunctionality described herein can be performed, at least in part, byone or more hardware logic components, such as, and without limitation,Field-programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Application-specific IntegratedCircuits (ASICs), Application-specific Standard Products (ASSPs),System-on-a-chip systems (SoCs), Complex Programmable Logic Devices(CPLDs), and the like.

FIG. 3 illustrates example method(s) 300 of homogeneous systemdetermination in a network. The order in which the method is describedis not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number orcombination of the described method operations can be performed in anyorder to perform a method, or an alternate method.

At 302, a first management frame and at least a second management framethat are communicated in separate data messages in a network arereceived, where the first and second management frames are receivedusing a common communication protocol. For example, the wireless radio116 of the wireless device 104 shown in FIG. 1 is a Wi-Fi radio thatcommunicates with other Wi-Fi devices using the 802.11 protocol. Thewireless device 104 transmits via the Wi-Fi radio 116 first and secondmanagement frames 122 using a common communication protocol in separatedata messages that are associated with the respective first service 118and the second service 120. The first and second management frames 122are then received by a Wi-Fi radio (e.g., wireless radio 110) of thewireless device 200.

At 304, the first management frame is detected as being communicated ina first data message from a radio device in the network based on a firstsource address included in the first management frame. For example, thesystem identification module 124 initiates the detection algorithm 126to parse the first data message to identify a first source addressincluded in the first management frame. At 306, the second managementframe is detected as being communicated in a second data message fromthe radio device in the network based on a second source addressincluded in the second management frame, where the second source addressis different than the first source address. For example, the systemidentification module 124 initiates the detection algorithm 126 to parsethe second data message to identify a second source address included inthe second management frame.

At 308, the first management frame and the second management frame aredetermined as being communicated from a homogeneous system that includesthe radio device based at least in part on the first and second sourceaddresses. For example, the detection algorithm 126 determines that thefirst management frame and the second management frame are communicatedfrom the Wi-Fi radio 116 of the wireless device 104 based on any one orcombination of the various signatures 212 of the management frames 122,as shown and described with reference to FIG. 2. If the first and secondmanagement frames are determined as being communicated from the wirelessdevice 104, then the detection algorithm 126 identifies or classifiesthe wireless device 104 as a homogeneous system. This determinationbased on the signatures 212 is further described with reference to theexample methods 500, 600, and 700 shown in FIGS. 5-7.

At 310, an association with the homogenous system is determinedresponsive to the first and second management frames being communicatedfrom the homogeneous system, the association with the homogeneous systembased on an operational state of services associated with either thefirst or the second management frames. For example, responsive to thedetermination that the first and second management frames arecommunicated from the wireless device 104, and the detection algorithm126 identifies the wireless device 104 as a homogeneous system, thedetection algorithm 126 determines whether to associate with thewireless device 104 based on an operational state of the first service118 and/or the second service 120. The method then continues to 402 asfurther described with reference to the example method shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 illustrates example method(s) 400 of homogeneous systemdetermination in a network. The order in which the method is describedis not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number orcombination of the described method operations can be performed in anyorder to perform a method, or an alternate method.

At 402, a determination is made as to whether services associated withthe management frames received from a homogeneous system areoperational. For example, the detection algorithm 126 responds to thereceived management frames 122 to determine an operational state of thefirst service 118 and/or the second service 120. In one example, thedetection algorithm 126 detects that a backend server for either one ofthe services is not responding or not operable, and can then infer thatthe other service is not operational as well due to a backend issue. Inanother example, the detection algorithm 126 can detect that the networkavailability or a network connection (e.g., an Internet connection) forthe homogeneous system is down or otherwise off-line, and determinesthat the services are not operational. In another example, the detectionalgorithm 126 can request an indication of the operational state of thefirst service 118 and/or the second service 120 to determine whether theservices are operational.

If the services associated with the management frames received from ahomogeneous system are operational (i.e., “Yes” from 402), then themethod 400 continues at 404 to add the homogeneous system to an allowlist based on the services associated with either the first or thesecond management frames being operational. For example, the detectionalgorithm 126 detects that a backend server for either the first service118 or the second service 120 is operational and adds the wirelessdevice 104 to the allow list 226. The detection algorithm 126 can inferthat if the backend server for one of the services of the wirelessdevice 104 is operational, then the other service is operational aswell.

At 406, the first and second management frames are responded to based onthe homogeneous system being added to the allow list. For example, thesystem identification module 124 responds to the first and secondmanagement frames 122 based on the wireless device 104 having been addedto the allow list 226. Alternatively, firmware of the wireless radio 110or other executable code stored in the wireless device 200 can beimplemented to handle communications between the wireless device 200 andthe homogeneous system (e.g., the wireless device 104) based on systemslisted in the allow list 226.

If the services associated with the management frames received from ahomogeneous system is not operational (i.e., “No” from 402), then themethod 400 continues at 408 to add the homogeneous system to a blocklist based on the operational state of services associated with eitherthe first or the second management frames being not operational. Forexample, the detection algorithm 126 detects that a backend server foreither the first service 118 or the second service 120 is unavailableand adds the wireless device 104 to the block list 224. The detectionalgorithm 126 can infer that if the backend server for one of theservices of the wireless device 104 is not operational, then the otherservice is also not operational.

At 410, the management frames are ignored by not responding to the firstand second management frames based on the homogeneous system being addedto the block list. For example, the system identification module 124does not initiate to respond to the first and second management frames122 based on the wireless device 104 having been added to the block list224. In this way, the wireless device 200 can determine that theservices associated with the wireless device 104 are not available dueto a communication issue or an issue with the backend server, and notrespond to the received management frames 122, which saves battery powerof the device.

At 412, an indication of the operational state of the servicesassociated with the first and second management frames is transmitted toa computing device. For example, the system identification module 124transmits via a Wi-Fi radio (e.g., wireless radio 110) an indicationthat the services associated with the first and second management framesof the homogeneous system (e.g., wireless device 104) are notoperational to a computing device communicatively accessible over thenetwork 106. Alternatively, the system identification module 124transmits the indication of the operational state of the servicesassociated with the homogeneous system via any suitable communicationsmethod, such as via Bluetooth™, NFC, RFID, and the like.

FIG. 5 illustrates example method(s) 500 of homogeneous systemdetermination in a network. The order in which the method is describedis not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number orcombination of the described method operations can be performed in anyorder to perform a method, or an alternate method.

At 502, a determination as to whether the first source address and thesecond source address correspond to the same manufacturer. For example,the detection algorithm 126 utilizes the OUI 214 of the signatures 212to perform an OUI lookup of the received management frames 122. An OUIlookup is performed on the first and second source addresses, and theresult from the OUI lookup indicates the manufacturers associated withthe first and second source addresses. The detection algorithm 126 canthen compare the manufacturers from the result of the OUI lookup anddetermine whether the first and second source addresses correspond tothe same manufacturer.

In another example, the detection algorithm 126 may detect that thefirst and second source addresses are locally administered addresses.The detection algorithm 126 can compute back the locally administeredsource addresses to the universal administered source addresses. Thedetection algorithm 126 can then perform the OUI lookup as describedabove to determine that the locally administered source addressesincluded in the management frames 122 are communicated from a singlewireless radio 116 of the wireless device 104 (e.g., a homogeneoussystem). Notably, a device which supports multiple MAC will have thesame OUI (e.g., a non-OUI), and primarily, the last octet will differ bythe order of two. For example, an access point which is DBDC (Dual BandDual Cell) will have two SSID (i.e., the same or different) each on the2.4 GHz band and the 5.0 GHz band, respectively.

At 504, the first management frame and the second management frame aredetermined to have been communicated from the homogeneous system basedon the same manufacturer corresponding to the first and second sourceaddresses. For example, the detection algorithm 126 determines that thefirst and second management frames 122 are communicated from ahomogeneous system (e.g., wireless device 104) based on the OUI lookupindicating that the first and second source addresses correspond to thesame manufacturer. The method then continues at 310.

FIG. 6 illustrates example method(s) 600 of homogeneous systemdetermination in a network. The order in which the method is describedis not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number orcombination of the described method operations can be performed in anyorder to perform a method, or an alternate method.

At 602, a received signal strength indictor (RSSI) value is obtained forthe first management frame and the second management frame. For example,the detection algorithm 126 utilizes the RSSI values 216 of thesignatures 212 to obtain RSSI values of the received management frames122. At 604, the RSSI values between the first and second managementframes are compared. For example, the detection algorithm 126 comparesthe RSSI value 216 between the first and second management frames.

At 606, the first management frame and the second management frame aredetermined to have been communicated from the homogeneous system basedon the comparison of the RSSI values being within a thresholddifference. For example, the detection algorithm 126 determines that thefirst and second management frames 122 are communicated from ahomogeneous system (e.g., wireless device 104) based on the comparisonof the RSSI values being within a threshold difference. The method thencontinues at 310.

FIG. 7 illustrates example method(s) 700 of homogeneous systemdetermination in a network. The order in which the method is describedis not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number orcombination of the described method operations can be performed in anyorder to perform a method, or an alternate method.

At 702, a determination is made as to whether the first and secondmanagement frames include TPC reports. For example, the detectionalgorithm 126 parses the first and second management frames 122 todetermine whether TPC reports 218 are included in the management frames.If the TPC reports 218 are included in the management frames 122 (i.e.,“Yes” from 702), then the TPC reports are stored and the methodcontinues at 706. For example, after the first and second managementframes 122 are parsed and the TPC reports 218 are determined as beingincluded in the first and second management frames 122, the detectionalgorithm 126 stores the TPC reports of the first and second managementframes in TPC reports 218 of the signatures 212.

If the TPC reports are not included with the management frames 122(i.e., “No” from 702), then at 704, the TPC reports are requested fromthe first source address of the first management frame and from thesecond address of the second management frame. For example, thedetection algorithm 126 determines that the TPC reports 218 are notincluded in the first and second management frames 122 and transmitsrequests to the first source address of the first management frame andthe second source address of the second management frame to obtain theTPC reports.

At 706, the TPC reports of the first and second management frames arecompared. For example, the detection algorithm 126 compares the TPCreports 218 of the first and second management frames. At 708, the firstmanagement frame and the second management frame are determined to havebeen communicated from the homogeneous system based on the comparison ofthe TPC report of the first and second management frames being within athreshold difference. For example, the detection algorithm 126determines that the first and second management frames 122 arecommunicated from a homogeneous system (e.g., wireless device 104) basedon the comparison of the TPC report being within a threshold difference.The method then continues at 310.

FIG. 8 illustrates example method(s) 800 of heterogeneous systemdetermination in a network. The order in which the method is describedis not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number orcombination of the described method operations can be performed in anyorder to perform a method, or an alternate method.

At 802, a first management frame and at least a second management framethat are communicated in separate data messages are received. Forexample, the wireless device 104 is an IoT device having a Wi-Fi radioand a Bluetooth™ radio (e.g., wireless radios 116). The IoT devicetransmits via the Wi-Fi radio 116 a first management frame 122 andtransmits via the Bluetooth™ radio a second management frame 122 inseparate data messages. The data messages including the first and secondmanagement frames 122 are then received by the respective wirelessradios 110 of the wireless device 200 (e.g., the wireless radios 110).

At 804, the first management frame is detected as being communicated ina first data message from a radio device using a first communicationprotocol based on a first source address included in the firstmanagement frame. For example, the system identification module 124initiates the detection algorithm 126 to parse the first data messageaccording to the first communication protocol to identify a first sourceaddress included in the first management frame. At 806, the secondmanagement frame is detected as being communicated in a second datamessage from a different radio device using a second communicationprotocol based on a second source address included in the secondmanagement frame, where the second source address is different than thefirst source address. For example, the system identification module 124initiates the detection algorithm 126 to parse the second data messageaccording to the second communication protocol to identify a secondsource address included in the second management frame.

At 808, the first management frame and the second management frame aredetermined as being communicated from a heterogeneous system thatincludes the radio device and the different radio device in a networkbased at least in part on the first and second source addresses. Forexample, the detection algorithm 126 determines that the firstmanagement frame and the second management frame are communicated fromthe Wi-Fi radio 116 and the Bluetooth™ radio 116 of the wireless device104. If the first and second management frames 122 are determined asbeing communicated from the wireless device 104, then the detectionalgorithm 126 identifies or classifies the wireless device 104 as aheterogeneous system. This determination based on the signatures 212 isfurther described with reference to the example methods 1000, 1100, and1200 shown in FIGS. 10-12.

At 810, an association with the heterogeneous system is determinedresponsive to the first and second management frames being communicatedfrom the heterogeneous system, the association with the heterogeneoussystem based on an operational state of services associated with eitherthe first or the second management frames. For example, responsive tothe determination that the first and second management frames arecommunicated from the wireless device 104, and the detection algorithm126 identifies the wireless device 104 as a heterogeneous system, thedetection algorithm 126 determines whether to associate with thewireless device 104 based on the operational state of the first service118 and/or the second service 120. The method then continues to 902 asfurther described with reference to the example method shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 illustrates example method(s) 900 of heterogeneous systemdetermination in a network. The order in which the method is describedis not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number orcombination of the described method operations can be performed in anyorder to perform a method, or an alternate method.

At 902, a determination is made as to whether services associated withthe management frames received from a heterogeneous system areoperational. For example, the detection algorithm 126 responds to thereceived management frames 122 to determine an operational state of thefirst service 118 and/or the second service 120. In one example, thedetection algorithm 126 detects that a backend server for either one ofthe services is not responding or not operable, and can then infer thatthe other service is not operational as well due to a backend issue. Inanother example, the detection algorithm 126 can detect that the networkavailability or a network connection (e.g., an Internet connection) forthe heterogeneous system is down or otherwise off-line, and determinesthat the services are not operational. In another example, the detectionalgorithm 126 can request an indication of the operational state of thefirst service 118 and/or the second service 120 to determine whether theservices are operational.

If the services associated with the management frames received from aheterogeneous system are operational (i.e., “Yes” from 902), then themethod 900 continues at 904 to add the heterogeneous system to an allowlist based on the services associated with either the first or thesecond management frames being operational. For example, the detectionalgorithm 126 detects that a backend server for either the first service118 or the second service 120 is operational and adds the wirelessdevice 104 to the allow list 226. The detection algorithm 126 can inferthat if the backend server for one of the services of the wirelessdevice 104 is operational, then the other service is operational aswell.

At 906, the first and second management frames are responded to based onthe heterogeneous system being added to the allow list. For example, thesystem identification module 124 responds to the first and secondmanagement frames 122 based on the wireless device 104 having been addedto the allow list 226. Alternatively, firmware of the wireless radio 110or other executable code stored in the wireless device 200 can beimplemented to handle communications between the wireless device 200 andthe heterogeneous system (e.g., the wireless device 104) based onsystems listed in the allow list 226.

If the services associated with the management frames received from aheterogeneous system is not operational (i.e., “No” from 902), then themethod 900 continues at 908 to add the heterogeneous system to a blocklist based on the operational state of services associated with eitherthe first or the second management frames being unavailable. Forexample, the detection algorithm 126 detects that a backend server foreither the first service 118 or the second service 120 is unavailableand adds the wireless device 104 to the block list 224. The detectionalgorithm 126 can infer that if the backend server for one of theservices of the wireless device 104 is not operational, then the otherservice is also not operational.

At 910, the management frames are ignored by not responding to the firstand second management frames based on the heterogeneous system beingadded to the block list. For example, the system identification module124 does not initiate to respond to the first and second managementframes 122 based on the wireless device 104 having been added to theblock list 224. In this way, the wireless device 200 can determine thatthe services associated with the wireless device 104 are not availabledue to a communication issue or an issue with the backend server, andnot respond to the received management frames 122, which saves batterypower of the device.

At 912, an indication of the operational state of the servicesassociated with the first and second management frames is transmitted toa computing device. For example, the system identification module 124transmits via a Wi-Fi radio (e.g., wireless radio 110) an indicationthat the services associated with the first and second management framesof the heterogeneous system (e.g., wireless device 104) are notoperational to a computing device communicatively accessible over thenetwork 106. Alternatively, the system identification module 124transmits the indication of the operational state of the servicesassociated with the heterogeneous system via any suitable communicationsmethod, such as via Bluetooth™, NFC, RFID, and the like.

FIG. 10 illustrates example method(s) 1000 of heterogeneous systemdetermination in a network. The order in which the method is describedis not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number orcombination of the described method operations can be performed in anyorder to perform a method, or an alternate method.

At 1002, a determination as to whether the first source address and thesecond source address correspond to the same manufacturer. For example,the detection algorithm 126 utilizes the OUI 214 of the signatures 212to perform an OUI lookup of the received management frames 122. An OUIlookup is performed on the first and second source addresses, and theresult from the OUI lookup indicates the manufacturers associated withthe first and second source addresses. The detection algorithm 126 canthen compare the manufacturers from the result of the OUI lookup anddetermine whether the first and second source addresses correspond tothe same manufacturer.

In another example, the detection algorithm 126 may detect that thefirst and second source addresses are locally administered addresses.The detection algorithm 126 can compute back the locally administeredsource addresses to the universal administered source address. Thedetection algorithm 126 can then perform the OUI lookup as describedabove to determine that the locally administered source addressesincluded in the management frames 122 are communicated from the wirelessdevice 104 (e.g., heterogeneous system). Notably, a device whichsupports multiple MAC will have the same OUI (e.g., a non-OUI), andprimarily, the last octet will differ by the order of two. For example,an access point which is DBDC will have two SSID (i.e., the same ordifferent) each on the 2.4 GHz band and the 5.0 GHz band, respectively.

At 1004, the first management frame and the second management frame aredetermined to have been communicated from the heterogeneous system basedon the same manufacturer corresponding to the first and second sourceaddresses. For example, the detection algorithm 126 determines that thefirst and second management frames 122 are communicated from aheterogeneous system (e.g., wireless device 104) based on the OUI lookupindicating that the first and second source addresses correspond to thesame manufacturer. The method then continues at 810.

FIG. 11 illustrates example method(s) 1100 of heterogeneous systemdetermination in a network. The order in which the method is describedis not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number orcombination of the described method operations can be performed in anyorder to perform a method, or an alternate method.

At 1102, a received signal strength indictor (RSSI) values are obtainedfor the first management frame and the second management frame. Forexample, the detection algorithm 126 utilizes the RSSI values 216 of thesignatures 212 to obtain RSSI values of the received management frames122. At 1104, the RSSI values between the first and second managementframes are compared. For example, the detection algorithm 126 comparesthe RSSI value 216 between the first and second management frames.

At 1106, the first management frame and the second management frame aredetermined to have been communicated from a heterogeneous system basedon the comparison of the RSSI values being within a thresholddifference. For example, the detection algorithm 126 determines that thefirst and second management frames 122 are communicated from aheterogeneous system (e.g., wireless device 104) based on the comparisonof the RSSI values being within a threshold difference. The method thencontinues at 810.

FIG. 12 illustrates example method(s) 1200 of heterogeneous systemdetermination in a network. The order in which the method is describedis not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number orcombination of the described method operations can be performed in anyorder to perform a method, or an alternate method.

At 1202, a determination is made as to whether the first and secondmanagement frames include TPC reports. For example, the detectionalgorithm 126 parses the first and second management frames 122 todetermine whether TPC reports 218 are included in the management frames.If the TPC reports 218 are included in the management frames 122 (i.e.,“Yes” from 1202), then the TPC reports are stored and the methodcontinues at 1206. For example, after the first and second managementframes 122 are parsed and the TPC reports 218 are determined as beingincluded in the first and second management frames 122, the detectionalgorithm 126 stores the TPC reports of the first and second managementframes in TPC reports 218 of the signatures 212.

If the TPC reports are not included with the management frames 122(i.e., “No” from 1202), then at 1204, the TPC reports are requested fromthe first source address of the first management frame and the secondaddress of the second management frame. For example, the detectionalgorithm 126 determines that the TPC reports 218 are not included inthe first and second management frames 122 and transmits requests to thefirst source address of the first management frame and the second sourceaddress of the second management frame to obtain the TPC reports.

At 1206, the TPC reports of the first and second management frames arecompared. For example, the detection algorithm 126 compares the TPCreports 218 of the first and second management frames. At 1208, thefirst management frame and the second management frame are determined tohave been communicated from the heterogeneous system based on thecomparison of the TPC report of the first and second management framesbeing within a threshold difference. For example, the detectionalgorithm 126 determines that the first and second management frames 122are communicated from a heterogeneous system (e.g., wireless device 104)based on the comparison of the TPC report being within a thresholddifference. The method then continues at 810.

FIG. 13 illustrates various components of an example device 1300, whichcan implement examples of homogeneous and heterogeneous systemdetermination in a network as described herein. The example device 1300can be implemented as any of the devices described with reference to theprevious FIGS. 1-12, such as any type of mobile device, mobile phone,client device, tablet, computing, communication, entertainment, gaming,media playback, and/or other type of electronic device. For example, thecomputing device 102, the wireless device 104, and the wireless device200 shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1-12 may be implementedas the example device 1300.

The device 1300 includes communication transceivers 1302 that enablewired and/or wireless communication of device data 1304 with otherdevices. The device data 1304 can include the management frames and thesignatures of the management frames. Additionally, the device data caninclude any type of audio, video, and/or image data. Exampletransceivers include wireless personal area network (WPAN) radioscompliant with various IEEE 802.15 (Bluetooth™) standards, wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) radios compliant with any of the various IEEE802.11 (WiFi™) standards, wireless wide area network (WWAN) radios forcellular phone communication, wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN)radios compliant with various IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX′) standards, and wiredlocal area network (LAN) Ethernet transceivers for network datacommunication.

The device 1300 may also include one or more data input ports 1306 viawhich any type of data, media content, and/or inputs can be received,such as user-selectable inputs to the device, messages, music,television content, and any other type of audio, video, and/or imagedata received from any content and/or data source. The data input portsmay include USB ports, coaxial cable ports, and other serial or parallelconnectors (including internal connectors) for flash memory, DVDs, CDs,and the like. These data input ports may be used to couple the device toany type of components, peripherals, or accessories such as microphonesand/or cameras.

The device 1300 includes a processing system 1308 of one or moreprocessors (e.g., any of microprocessors, controllers, and the like)and/or a processor and memory system implemented as a system-on-chip(SoC) that processes computer-executable instructions. The processorsystem may be implemented at least partially in hardware, which caninclude components of an integrated circuit or on-chip system, anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmablegate array (FPGA), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and otherimplementations in silicon and/or other hardware. Alternatively or inaddition, the device can be implemented with any one or combination ofsoftware, hardware, firmware, or fixed logic circuitry that isimplemented in connection with processing and control circuits, whichare generally identified at 1310. The device 1300 may further includeany type of a system bus or other data and command transfer system thatcouples the various components within the device. A system bus caninclude any one or combination of different bus structures andarchitectures, as well as control and data lines.

The device 1300 also includes computer-readable storage memory 1312 thatenables data storage, such as data storage devices that can be accessedby a computing device, and that provide persistent storage of data andexecutable instructions (e.g., software applications, programs,algorithms, functions, and the like). Examples of the computer-readablestorage memory 1312 include volatile memory and non-volatile memory,fixed and removable media devices, and any suitable memory device orelectronic data storage that maintains data for computing device access.The computer-readable storage memory can include various implementationsof random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, andother types of storage memory devices in various memory deviceconfigurations. The device 1300 may also include a mass storage mediadevice.

The computer-readable storage memory 1312 provides data storagemechanisms to store the device data 1304, other types of informationand/or data, and various device applications 1314 (e.g., softwareapplications). For example, an operating system 1316 can be maintainedas software instructions with a memory device and executed by theprocessor system 1308. An example of the device applications 1314 is thefirst service 118 and the second service 120 of the wireless device 104.The device applications may also include a device manager, such as anyform of a control application, software application, signal-processingand control module, code that is native to a particular device, ahardware abstraction layer for a particular device, and so on.

In this example, the device 1300 includes a system identification module1318 that implements features and aspects of homogeneous systemdetermination in a network, as well as heterogeneous systemdetermination in a network, and may be implemented with hardwarecomponents and/or in software, such as when the device 1300 isimplemented as the computing device 102 or the wireless device 200described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. An example of the systemidentification module 1318 is the system identification module 124implemented as a software application and/or as hardware components inthe computing device 102 and the wireless device 200 as described andshown in the previous figures. In implementations, the systemidentification module 1318 may include independent processing, memory,and logic components as a computing and/or electronic device integratedwith the example device 1300.

In this example, the device 1300 also includes a camera 1320 and anaudio and/or video processing system 1322 that generates audio data foran audio system 1324 and/or generates display data for a display system1326. An example of the display system 1326 is the display device 208 ofthe wireless device 200. The audio system and/or the display system mayinclude any devices that process, display, and/or otherwise renderaudio, video, display, and/or image data. Display data and audio signalscan be communicated to an audio component and/or to a display componentvia an RF (radio frequency) link, S-video link, HDMI (high-definitionmultimedia interface), composite video link, component video link, DVI(digital video interface), analog audio connection, or other similarcommunication link, such as media data port 1328. In implementations,the audio system and/or the display system are integrated components ofthe example device. Alternatively, the audio system and/or the displaysystem are external, peripheral components to the example device.

The device 1300 can also include one or more power sources 1330, such aswhen the device is implemented as a mobile device or portable device.The power sources may include a charging and/or power system, and can beimplemented as a flexible strip battery, a rechargeable battery, acharged super-capacitor, and/or any other type of active or passivepower source.

Although implementations of homogeneous and heterogeneous systemdetermination in a network have been described in language specific tofeatures and/or methods, the subject of the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or methods described.Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as exampleimplementations of homogeneous and heterogeneous system determination ina network, and other equivalent features and methods are intended to bewithin the scope of the appended claims. Further, various differentexamples are described and it is to be appreciated that each describedexample can be implemented independently or in connection with one ormore other described examples. Additional aspects of the techniques,features, and/or methods discussed herein relate to one or more of thefollowing:

A method, comprising: receiving a first management frame and at least asecond management frame communicated in separate data messages in anetwork, the first and the second management frames being received usinga common communication protocol; detecting that the first managementframe is communicated in a first data message from a radio device in thenetwork, the first management frame being detected based on a firstsource address included in the first management frame; detecting thatthe second management frame is communicated in a second data messagefrom the radio device in the network, the second management frame beingdetected based on a second source address included in the secondmanagement frame, the second source address being different than thefirst source address; and determining that the first management frameand the second management frame are communicated from a homogeneoussystem that includes the radio device in the network based at least inpart on the first and the second source addresses.

Alternatively or in addition to the above described method, any one orcombination of: determining to associate with the homogeneous systemresponsive to the first and the second management frames beingcommunicated from the homogeneous system, the association based on anoperational state of services associated with either the first or thesecond management frames. The determining to associate with thehomogeneous system includes adding the homogeneous system to a blocklist based on the operational state of services associated with eitherthe first or the second management frames being not operational, and notresponding to the first and the second management frames. Thedetermining to associate with the homogeneous system includes adding thehomogeneous system to an allow list based on the operational state ofservices associated with either the first or the second managementframes being operational, and responding to the first and the secondmanagement frames. The method further comprising: receiving a thirdmanagement frame communicated in a separate data message in the network,the third management frame being received using the common communicationprotocol; detecting that the third management frame is communicated froma different radio device in the network, the third management framebeing detected based on a third source address included in the thirdmanagement frame; determining that the third management frame iscommunicated from a different device system that includes the differentradio device based at least in part on the third source address; addingthe different device system to the allow list based on the operationalstate of services associated with the third management frame beingoperational; and responding to the third management frame based on thedifferent device system being added to the allow list. The methodfurther comprising: determining whether the first source address and thesecond source address correspond to the same manufacturer; and thedetermining that the first management frame and the second managementframe are communicated from the homogeneous system is further based onthe same manufacturer corresponding to the first and the second sourceaddresses with a non-organizationally unique identifier (non-OUI)portion. The method further comprising: obtaining received signalstrength indication (RSSI) values for the first management frame and thesecond management frame; comparing the RSSI values between the first andthe second management frames; and the determining that the firstmanagement frame and the second management frame are communicated fromthe homogeneous system is further based on the comparison of the RSSIvalues being within a threshold difference. The first management frameand the second management frame each include a transmit power control(TPC) report, and the method further comprising: comparing the TPCreport of the first and the second management frames; and thedetermining that the first management frame and the second managementframe are communicated from the homogeneous system is further based onthe comparison of the TPC report of the first and the second managementframes being within a threshold difference.

A method, comprising: receiving a first management frame and at least asecond management frame communicated in separate data messages in anetwork, the first and the second management frames being received usinga common communication protocol; detecting that the first managementframe is communicated in a first data message from a radio device usingthe common communication protocol in the network, the first managementframe being detected based on a first source address included in thefirst management frame; detecting that the second management frame iscommunicated in a second data message from a different radio deviceusing the common communication protocol in the network, the secondmanagement frame being detected based on a second source addressincluded in the second management frame; and determining that the firstmanagement frame and the second management frame are communicated from ahomogeneous system that includes the radio device and the differentradio device, the determining based at least in part on the first sourceaddress and the second source address corresponding to a samemanufacturer.

Alternatively or in addition to the above described method, any one orcombination of: determining to associate with the homogeneous systemresponsive to the first and the second management frames beingcommunicated from the homogeneous system, the association based on anoperational state of services associated with either the first or thesecond management frames. The determining to associate with thehomogeneous system includes adding the homogeneous system to a blocklist based on the operational state of services associated with eitherthe first or the second management frames being not operational, and notresponding to the first and the second management frames. Thedetermining to associate with the homogeneous system includes adding thehomogeneous system to an allow list based on the operational state ofservices associated with either the first or the second managementframes being operational, and responding to the first and the secondmanagement frames. The method further comprising: obtaining receivedsignal strength indication (RSSI) values for the first management frameand the second management frame; comparing the RSSI values between thefirst and the second management frames; and the determining that thefirst management frame and the second management frame are communicatedfrom the homogeneous system is further based on the comparison of theRSSI values being within a threshold difference. The first and thesecond management frames each include a transmit power control (TPC)report, and the method further comprising: comparing the TPC report ofthe first and the second management frames; and the determining that thefirst management frame and the second management frame are communicatedfrom the homogeneous system is further based on the comparison of theTPC report of the first and the second management frames being within athreshold difference. The method further comprising: communicating withthe radio device and the different radio device that transmitted therespective first and the second management frames to obtain geospatiallocations for the radio device and the different radio device; and thedetermining that the first management frame and the second managementframe are communicated from the homogeneous system is further based onthe geospatial locations of the radio device and the different radiodevice being at a same location or within a threshold area. The methodfurther comprising: communicating with the radio device and thedifferent radio device that transmitted the respective first and thesecond management frames to determine a distance to the radio device andto the different radio device; and the determining that the firstmanagement frame and the second management frame are communicated fromthe homogeneous system is further based on the distance to the radiodevice and to the different radio device being within a thresholddifference.

A device, comprising: a radio to receive data messages over a network; amemory and processor system to execute a system identification moduleimplemented to: receive a first management frame and at least a secondmanagement frame communicated in separate data messages in the network,the first and the second management frames being received using a commoncommunication protocol; detect that the first management frame iscommunicated in a first data message from a radio device in the network,the first management frame being detected based on a first sourceaddress included in the first management frame; detect that the secondmanagement frame is communicated in a second data message from the radiodevice in the network, the second management frame being detected basedon a second source address included in the second management frame; anddetermine that the first management frame and the second managementframe are communicated from a homogeneous system that includes the radiodevice based at least in part on the first and the second sourceaddresses.

Alternatively or in addition to the above described device, any one orcombination of: the system identification module is implemented todetermine to associate with the homogeneous system responsive to thefirst and the second management frames being communicated from the radiodevice in the homogeneous system, the association based on anoperational state of services associated with either the first or thesecond management frames. The determination to associate with thehomogeneous system includes the system identification module implementedto add the homogeneous system to a block list based on the operationalstate of services associated with either the first or the secondmanagement frames being not operational, and not respond to the firstand the second management frames. The determination to associate withthe homogeneous system includes the system identification moduleimplemented to add the homogeneous system to an allow list based on theoperational state of services associated with either the first or thesecond management frames being operational, and respond to the first andthe second management frames.

A method, comprising: receiving a first management frame and at least asecond management frame communicated in separate data messages, thefirst and the second management frames being received using differentcommunication protocols; detecting that the first management frame iscommunicated in a first data message from a radio device using a firstcommunication protocol, the first management frame being detected basedon a first source address included in the first management frame;detecting that the second management frame is communicated in a seconddata message from a different radio device using a second communicationprotocol, the second management frame being detected based on a secondsource address included in the second management frame, the secondsource address being different than the first source address;determining that the first management frame and the second managementframe are communicated from a heterogeneous system that includes theradio device and the different radio device based at least in part onthe first and the second source addresses.

Alternatively or in addition to the above described method, any one orcombination of: determining to associate with the heterogeneous systemresponsive to the first and the second management frames beingcommunicated from the heterogeneous system, the association based on anoperational state of services associated with either the first or thesecond management frames. The determining to associate with theheterogeneous system includes adding the heterogeneous system to a blocklist based on the operational state of services associated with eitherthe first or the second management frames being not operational, and notresponding to the first and the second management frames. Thedetermining to associate with the heterogeneous system includes addingthe heterogeneous system to an allow list based on the operational stateof services associated with either the first or the second managementframes being operational, and responding to the first and the secondmanagement frames. The method further comprising: receiving a thirdmanagement frame communicated in a separate data message, the thirdmanagement frame being received using one of the first communicationprotocol, the second communication protocol, or a third communicationprotocol; detecting that the third management frame is communicated fromanother radio device, the third management frame being detected based ona third source address included in the third management frame;determining that the third management frame is communicated from adifferent device system that includes the other radio device based atleast in part on the third source address; adding the different devicesystem to the allow list based on the an operational state of servicesassociated with the third management frame being operational; andresponding to the third management frame based on the different devicesystem being added to the allow list. The method further comprising:determining whether the first source address and the second sourceaddress correspond to the same manufacturer; and the determining thatthe first management frame and the second management frame arecommunicated from the heterogeneous system is further based on the samemanufacturer corresponding to the first and the second source addresses.The method further comprising: obtaining received signal strengthindication (RSSI) values for the first management frame and the secondmanagement frame; comparing the RSSI values between the first and thesecond management frames; and the determining that the first managementframe and the second management frame are communicated from theheterogeneous system is further based on the comparison of the RSSIvalues being within a threshold difference. The first management frameand the second management frame each include a transmit power control(TPC) report, and the method further comprising: comparing the TPCreport of the first and the second management frames; and thedetermining that the first management frame and the second managementframe are communicated from the heterogeneous system is further based onthe comparison of the TPC report of the first and the second managementframes being within a threshold difference.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving a firstmanagement frame and at least a second management frame communicated inseparate data messages in a network, the first and the second managementframes being received using a common communication protocol; detectingthat the first management frame is communicated in a first data messagefrom a radio device in the network, the first management frame beingdetected based on a first source address included in the firstmanagement frame; detecting that the second management frame iscommunicated in a second data message from the radio device in thenetwork, the second management frame being detected based on a secondsource address included in the second management frame, the secondsource address being different than the first source address;determining that the first management frame and the second managementframe are communicated from a homogeneous system that includes the radiodevice in the network based at least in part on the first and the secondsource addresses; and determining to associate with the homogeneoussystem by adding the homogeneous system to an allow list based on anoperational state of services associated with either the first or thesecond management frames being operational, and responding to the firstand second management frames.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1,wherein the determining to associate with the homogeneous system isresponsive to the first and the second management frames beingcommunicated from the homogeneous system, and the association based onthe operational state of the services associated with either the firstor the second management frames.
 3. The method as recited in claim 1,wherein, as an alternative to adding the homogeneous system to the allowlist, adding the homogeneous system to a block list based on theoperational state of the services associated with either the first orthe second management frames being not operational, and not respondingto the first and the second management frames.
 4. The method as recitedin claim 1, further comprising: receiving a third management framecommunicated in a separate data message in the network, the thirdmanagement frame being received using the common communication protocol;detecting that the third management frame is communicated from adifferent radio device in the network, the third management frame beingdetected based on a third source address included in the thirdmanagement frame; determining that the third management frame iscommunicated from a different device system that includes the differentradio device based at least in part on the third source address; addingthe different device system to the allow list based on the operationalstate of services associated with the third management frame beingoperational; and responding to the third management frame based on thedifferent device system being added to the allow list.
 5. The method asrecited in claim 1, further comprising: determining whether the firstsource address and the second source address correspond to the samemanufacturer; and the determining that the first management frame andthe second management frame are communicated from the homogeneous systemis further based on the same manufacturer corresponding to the first andthe second source addresses with a non-organizationally uniqueidentifier (non-OUI) portion.
 6. The method as recited in claim 1,further comprising: obtaining received signal strength indication (RSSI)values for the first management frame and the second management frame;comparing the RSSI values between the first and the second managementframes; and the determining that the first management frame and thesecond management frame are communicated from the homogeneous system isfurther based on the comparison of the RSSI values being within athreshold difference.
 7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein thefirst management frame and the second management frame each include atransmit power control (TPC) report, and the method further comprising:comparing the TPC report of the first and the second management frames;and the determining that the first management frame and the secondmanagement frame are communicated from the homogeneous system is furtherbased on the comparison of the TPC report of the first and the secondmanagement frames being within a threshold difference.
 8. A method,comprising: receiving a first management frame and at least a secondmanagement frame communicated in separate data messages in a network,the first and the second management frames being received using a commoncommunication protocol; detecting that the first management frame iscommunicated in a first data message from a radio device using thecommon communication protocol in the network, the first management framebeing detected based on a first source address included in the firstmanagement frame; detecting that the second management frame iscommunicated in a second data message from a different radio deviceusing the common communication protocol in the network, the secondmanagement frame being detected based on a second source addressincluded in the second management frame; and determining that the firstmanagement frame and the second management frame are communicated from ahomogeneous system that includes the radio device and the differentradio device, the determining based at least in part on the first sourceaddress and the second source address having a non-organizationallyunique identifier (non-OUI) portion corresponding to a samemanufacturer, and the homogeneous system added to an allow list based onan operational state of services associated with either the first or thesecond management frames being operational.
 9. The method as recited inclaim 8, further comprising: determining to associate with thehomogeneous system responsive to the first and the second managementframes being communicated from the homogeneous system, the associationbased on the operational state of services associated with either thefirst or the second management frames.
 10. The method as recited inclaim 9, wherein the determining to associate with the homogeneoussystem alternatively includes adding the homogeneous system to a blocklist based on the operational state of services associated with eitherthe first or the second management frames being not operational, and notresponding to the first and the second management frames.
 11. The methodas recited in claim 9, wherein the determining to associate with thehomogeneous system and the homogeneous system added to the allow listincludes responding to the first and the second management frames. 12.The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising: obtaining receivedsignal strength indication (RSSI) values for the first management frameand the second management frame; comparing the RSSI values between thefirst and the second management frames; and the determining that thefirst management frame and the second management frame are communicatedfrom the homogeneous system is further based on the comparison of theRSSI values being within a threshold difference.
 13. The method asrecited in claim 8, wherein the first and the second management frameseach include a transmit power control (TPC) report, and the methodfurther comprising: comparing the TPC report of the first and the secondmanagement frames; and the determining that the first management frameand the second management frame are communicated from the homogeneoussystem is further based on the comparison of the TPC report of the firstand the second management frames being within a threshold difference.14. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising: communicatingwith the radio device and the different radio device that transmittedthe respective first and the second management frames to obtaingeospatial locations for the radio device and the different radiodevice; and the determining that the first management frame and thesecond management frame are communicated from the homogeneous system isfurther based on the geospatial locations of the radio device and thedifferent radio device being at a same location or within a thresholdarea.
 15. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:communicating with the radio device and the different radio device thattransmitted the respective first and the second management frames todetermine a distance to the radio device and to the different radiodevice; and the determining that the first management frame and thesecond management frame are communicated from the homogeneous system isfurther based on the distance to the radio device and to the differentradio device being within a threshold difference.
 16. A device,comprising: a radio to receive data messages over a network; a memoryand processor system to execute a system identification moduleimplemented to: receive a first management frame and at least a secondmanagement frame communicated in separate data messages in the network,the first and the second management frames being received using a commoncommunication protocol; detect that the first management frame iscommunicated in a first data message from a radio device in the network,the first management frame being detected based on a first sourceaddress included in the first management frame; detect that the secondmanagement frame is communicated in a second data message from the radiodevice in the network, the second management frame being detected basedon a second source address included in the second management frame;determine that the first management frame and the second managementframe are communicated from a homogeneous system that includes the radiodevice based at least in part on the first and the second sourceaddresses, and determine to associate with the homogeneous system by thehomogeneous system added to a block list based on an operational stateof services associated with either the first or the second managementframes being not operational, and not respond to the first and thesecond management frames.
 17. The device as recited in claim 16, whereinthe system identification module determines to associate with thehomogeneous system responsive to the first and the second managementframes being communicated from the radio device in the homogeneoussystem, and the association based on the operational state of theservices associated with either the first or the second managementframes.
 18. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein the determinationto associate with the homogeneous system includes wherein, as analternative to homogenous system added to the block list, the systemidentification module implemented to add the homogeneous system to anallow list based on the operational state of the services associatedwith either the first or the second management frames being operational,and respond to the first and the second management frames.
 19. Thedevice as recited in claim 16, wherein the system identification moduleis implemented to: obtain received signal strength indication (RSSI)values for the first management frame and the second management frame;compare the RSSI values between the first and the second managementframes; and determine that the first management frame and the secondmanagement frame are communicated from the homogeneous system furtherbased on the comparison of the RSSI values being within a thresholddifference.
 20. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein the first andthe second management frames each include a transmit power control (TPC)report, and the system identification module is implemented to: comparethe TPC report of the first and the second management frames; anddetermine that the first management frame and the second managementframe are communicated from the homogeneous system further based on thecomparison of the TPC report of the first and the second managementframes being within a threshold difference.